Paper-cutting machine



June 26, 1951' c, TYLER 2,558,398

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1946 1 3 Sheets-Shea, l

INVENTOR.

7 .1.- 74. BY 0. TYLER June 26, 1951 c. TYLER 2,558,398

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllllllllllllil i in INVENTOR. '7 0. TYLER I BY Gaflum June 26, 1951 c. TYLER 2,558,398

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 5 I JNVENTOR:

CTYLEI? H\ +1 BY 7 WWW H TORNEY Patented June 26 1951 PAPER-CUTTING MACHINE Charles Tyler, Long Beach, -Calif., assignor to Herman J. Minkus, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 13, 1946, Serial No. 683,517

This invention relates to a device for cutting a web of material such as paper, fabric and the like into sheets of predetermined uniform length.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive machine which will speedily and effectively cut sheets of material to uniformly exact size. It is a further object to provide a device which may be quickly and conveniently adjusted to vary the size of sheets to be out. Another object is to provide means for automatically releasing each sheet of material from the machine upon completion of the cutting operation for convenient removal by the operator of the machine- These and other objects of the invention will be better understood upon perusual of the following detailed description and by referring to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of a device embodying the invention and with parts thereof broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a substantially corresponding view showing the device in a different position of adjustment;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the device when the parts thereof are in the position indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the front portion of the device as viewed from the upper righthand corner of Fig. 1, and showing parts of the device in a different position of adjustment;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the spider wheel as it which a shaft 4 is rotatably supported and a fulcrum frame 5is rigidly secured to this shaft at the center thereof. This frame includes three bifurcated projections 5 5 5 which extendradially from the shaft axis and are equidistantly spaced apart.

In each projection is mounted.

provided by means of which, in response to rota- 7 Claims. ('01. 164-42) frame 5, is made with equidistant, bifurcated arms for receiving links M, and the latter are pivotally held in position therein by pins I5. These links extend across and are pivotally mounted on the adjacent lever l by means of pins l6, and the outer ends of the links are at H pivotally joined to short links 18 which, in turn,

are pivotally secured to the other set of arms 6, l

at I9.

A lazy tongs arrangement is in this manner tion of the shaft 4, the three bars 8 may be adjusted radially relative to the axis of the shaft and in parallel relation thereto. In order to effect such adjustment it is, of course, necessary slightly to unscrew the setscrews II which, upon com pletion of the adjustment, are again tightened to lock the arms rigidly in position on the bars.

A lock nut 20 is provided for locking the hub l2 rigidly in position on the shaft upon completion of the above described adjustment. The combination just described constitutes the: spider wheel of the machine, on which paper is supported in themanner which will be described presently.

An operating lever 2| is hung on a stub shaft 22, which is journaled in a bearing 2 of "the end plate 2, and fitted at the outer end thereof with a ratchet wheel 23. To the inner end of this shaft is secured a relatively large gear wheel 26 which is in mesh with a smaller gear wheel '21, secured to the shaft 4. The operating lever 2| is, in such manner, connected quickly to rotate the shaft 4 in counterclockwise direction through an arc of 120. It may be found desirable to mount a knob 28 on the opposite end of the shaft 4 for fine pivots on which a pair ofarms 6, I are hung to swing, and the outer ends of each pairofarms are adjustably seated in a groove 8 of a bar 8.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, plates 9.arei each fitted with a stud l0 which extends through a perforation of each of the arms 6, l and a set=.

screw threads 4* onwhich a threaded hub 12 is seated to supp tausleevella. wh ch-,i.1i-ke:the;

adjustment thereof.

,The cutting mechanism of the device may be constructed as follows. A knife 30 is by means of a stud 3| mounted on a plate 32 which, in turn,

is supported on the end plates 2 and 3 for radial adjustment relative to the axis of the shaft 4. The plate is for this purpose made with flanges 32?, 32 having elongated perforations therein, and one or more screws 34 extend through these perforations to lock the plate in adjusted position on the end plates of the machine. The knife 30 is normally held in the retracted position indicatedin Figs. 1 and. 3 by means of a spring 35 which extends from a stud 36 of the end plate 2 to a bell crank 31, and. the latter is shown pivotally mounted on a bracket 38 of the end plate. A link 39 operatively connects the end of 1 this bell crank with the end of the knife 30.

,Meansis provided for. moving the, knife as required for the cutting operation, against the tension of the spring 35, and such means is in the present disclosure shown to include a trigger rod 40 which extends through and is rigidly held in a stud 4| and the latter is seated for rotating movement in the end plate 2. A stud 42 is seated for rotation in the operating lever 2| and it is perforated slidably to receive .the rod 40 in order to render it possible for the rod to adjust itself to the swinging movement of the operating lever. The lower end of the rod 45 is positioned to engage the outer end of apawl 43 which is pivotally mounted on the bell crank 31' and, when the operating lever ismoved counterclockwise on the return stroke thereof, .to swing the bell crank and the knife into the position indicated in Fig; 4, continued movement of the lever causes the end of the rod to pass beyond: the outer end of the pawl rthereby to release the bell crank and the knife for return movement by the spring 35;. The bell crank is made with a downwardly directed lip 3.7 see'Fig. 4, properly to position the pawl on the bell crank for the purpose of this advance movement of the knife, and it is held in this position by means of a spring 45. Upon the subsequent forward movement of the operating'lever, it is seen that the lower end of the rod 40 swings the pawl in the opposite direction, against the tension of the spring 45, until it passes the pawl which thereupon by its spring is again returned to its initial position. But different operating connections may be substituted if desired.

The return stroke of the operating lever may be effected manually or by means of a spring v58, the preferred method of operation being manually to advance the lever and to release it for quick return movement by the spring. It is well to provide buffer means for the lever, and such means may take the form of. a spring 59 which is placed on the upper end of the trigger rod 4|]. Thisspring is adjusted by moving a stop collar 69 axially on the rod until suflicient tension is obtained to stop the lever smoothly on its return stroke.

The bars 8 are made with elongated perforations '8, parallel with the arms 6, "I, and these perforations are brought into alignment with the knife 30 each time the operating lever is swung forward into the position indicated in Fig. 1. Since it is essential correctly to align these perforations with the knife, it becomes necessary to provide means for checking the rotation of the shaft 4 at theend of the forward movement of the operating lever; Such means is, for convenience of illustration, shown to include an index wheel 50 which is secured to the projecting these projections substantially as indicated in Fig/l. A spring 53 maintains this pawl yieldingly in engagement with the projections. The end of the pawl is shown upwardly slanting in order to permit the projections of the member a 50, during the advance movement of the shaft 4, to raise the end of the pawl sufiiciently to Aweb of paper 49 is, in Fig. 2, shown fed to the machine from a roll- 55 which, for simplicity, in

the drawings is shown-mounted on an arbor 56 and the'latter is seated in grooves of the end plates 2 and 3. But I wish it understood that the roll of paper may be placed in any other desired position. From the outer surface of each bar 8 projects a series of pins 51, which serve to maintain the web of paper in position on the bars during the operation of the machine. The free edge of the paper web is in the first instance manually mounted on the pins vof one of the bars, and the shaft 4 is, then rotated by the operating lever to bring the end of the paper web into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position it is noticed that the knife 35 is aligned with the perforations 8 of the bars.

It. was above. described that the operating lever on the return stroke thereof moves. the

trigger rod to swing the knife on its pivot 3| and during this movement to cut the web of paper,

whereupon the knife is instantly released for return movement by the spring 35. The sheet of paper which. in this manner has been severed from the web may now be removed by the operator. Before the machine again can be operated to cut off the next sheet of paper it "becomes necessary to release the index wheel from the latch pawl St and this may be done by mounting on the operating lever a stud 60 which, when the operating lever approaches the limit of its return stroke, contacts the bottom edge of the pawl 51 and raises the pawl clear of the index wheel. When thereupon the operating lever is again started in forward; direction, it is to be noted that the pawl 24. enga es the ratchet wheel 23 to commence the movement of the index wheel in counter-clockwise direction, before the latch pawl reaches the projection 5|] of th index wheel. This interm diat po i n of the machine is substantially indicated in Fi 2. In order to make certain that the index wheel in this manner is released for rotation, I. have found it advisable to mount a spring 6,] on the end plate 2 in position to engage the adjacent projection 5|! of the index wheel, and which is powerful enough to commence this forward rotationof the index wheel the moment the latch pawl has been raised out of engagement therewith.

It was above statedthat the operator is free to remove the sheet of paper after it has been severed from the web. Thisoperatien may be greatly facilitated by providing. means for lifting the andsp ners 6.3 are provided for: the purpose of normally maintainin the release rod retraoted position the pin ban. Aihail 16.4 :is

seatedrf r rota ion wi hin a roovezsun-k in the rear side of thepin barand this bail is shaped at .oneend to forma belt crank 65, which is shown made at thetop thereofwi-than arm, 65 reachme under the projecting end of the, release" rod 62. The bell crankxextends downward from the axis .of the bail to terminate at the bottom in an outwardly projecting arm 65'. This arm is con.- tacted by the operating lever asthe latter approaches the end: .ofjits return movement, thereby to swing the bell-crank until the arm .6 5* com tactsv and elevates the release rod 62 sufficiently to disengage the" sheet of paper from the pins 51. 'Theopposite end of the bail is formed with an arm 66, which is identical with thea'r-m 55 and-as both arms form integral parts of the bail,

it is seen that both ends of the release rod are' operated upon at the same time to impart parallel outward movement to the rod.

The mechanism by means of which the spider wheel is adjusted to vary the size of the sheet of paper to be cut is above described, and it is there inexplained that the support 32 for the knife 30 is mounted for radial adjustment on therend frames of the machine correctly to position the knife for the cutting operation. In order to effect such adjustment, it is required to adjust the length of the link 39 correspondingly, and this may be done by making the link in the form of a turnbuckle, substantially as indicated in Fig. 4, but other adjusting means may be substituted .if desired. It is important to provide support for the sheet of paper which has been cut off, and such support may take the form of plates '51, 68 which are rigidly secured to the sides of the pin bars and cover the greater portion of the distance between these bars. Unless such supports are provided, it is seen that the detached sheet will drop into the spider wheel and become entangledtherein, making it diflicult for the operator to withdraw it.

In order to be able to construct the machine as lightly as possible and yet to retain sufficient rigidity for rapid operation, it may be advisable to provide guiding means for the arms of the spider wheels. Illustrative thereof, the shaft 15, of Fig. 6, is shown fitted with right and left screw threads, on which guide frames 16, 11 are seated. These frames are slotted, as best indicated in Fig. 7', to guide and to maintain the arms I8, 19 firmly in position. 1

When the shaft is rotated to adjust the size of the spider wheel it is found that these frames are caused to move axially thereon in opposite directions. Upon completion of this adjustment, it is merely required to advance setscrews 80, thereby to lock the frames in position on the shaft. The device is thereupon ready for operation in the manner above described. While this construction forms a more rigid device, it may be found that the expense of cutting the right and left screw threads on the spider wheel shaft adds to the cost of the device. It may, for this reason, he found preferable to substitute other means of moving the two guides in correctly spaced relation to each other.

Illustrative of such means, I have in Figs. 8 to 10 shown the guide frames 80, 8| slidable on a plain, uncut shaft 82. To the fulcrum frame 83 is secured a grooved plate 84, in which a rod 85 may be seated and the outer ends of this rod are then held supported within grooves of the guide frames 80, 8|, substantially as shown. Collars 86, 81 are secured to the rod in position to straddle the grooved plate 84 and so to prevent axial displacement of the rod. A pair of grooved sleeves 8B ride on right and left screw threads of the rod to straddle the guide frames and so to cause these frames to move axially in opposite directions in response to rotation of the rod for adjustment of the arms 18, 19. When the adjustment of the spider wheel is completed, it is merely required to tighten the set screws 89 and to detach the rod.

Sheet cutting machines of the type illustrated may be used over long periods of time without having to readjust the spider wheels thereof. When it is considered that one of these attachments may serve a great number of machines, it is seen that a considerable saving may be effected in the cost of the machines.

Attention is directed to the shape of the knife 6.. 30. It is noticed that this knife is sharply bent at or near the center thereof to provide point contact with the paper web at the beginning of the cutting operation. When, in addition, the edge of the knife at this point is formed with a sharp tooth 30 which in the first instance punctures the web, it is found that the sheet will be cleanly and sharply severed therefrom.

In order to facilitate adjustment of the spider wheel, means should be provided for correctly positioning the sleeve l3, and such means is in the drawing shown to comprise a gage bar 10, which is slidably fixed in the end plate 3 and locked in adjusted position therein by a setscrew I I The bar should be suitably graduated to indicate the various sizes of sheets to be produced.

When set to indicate the desired sheet size, it is merely required to unscrew the lock nut 20 and to rotate the shaft 4 until the flange [21 of the hub l2 contacts the end of the gage.

While I have herein described a preferred form of the invention, it is not the intention thereby to be limited to the exact shapes, sizes, proportions and arrangements shown. It may, for example, under certain conditions, be found preferable to provide the spider wheel with two or with more than three pin bars. Further modifications may be embodied within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim:

1. In a device for cutting sheets from a roll of material, a shaft, bars fitted to receive the web of material from said roll, arms radially extending from said shaft, means for adjusting the angular position of said arms on the shaft to support said bars in uniformly parallel spaced relation thereto, each of said bars having a passage exending lengthwise thereof and substantially radially directed therethrough, a knife on the device, lever operated means for rotating said shaft forwardly successively to bring each of said passages into alignment with said knife, and means associated with said lever means for actuating said knife for movement through said passage thereby to sever the web each time a passage is brought into alignment with the knife...

2. In a device for cutting sheets from a roll of material, a shaft, bars fitted to receive the web of material from said roll, arms radially extending from said shaft, means for adjusting the angular position of said arms on the shaft to support said bars in uniformly parallel spaced relation thereto, each of said bars having a passage extending lengthwise thereof and substantially radially directed therethrough, a knife mounted for swinging movement on the device, a hand lever, means interconnecting the lever with said shaft for rotating the shaft in one direction on the forward stroke of the lever successively to bring each of said passages into alignment with said knife, and means associated with said lever for actuating said knife on the return stroke of the lever to sever the web each time a passage is brought into alignment with the knife.

3. In a device for cutting sheets from a roll of material, a shaft, bars fitted to receive the web of material from said roll, arms radially extending from said shaft, means for adjusting the angular position of said arms on the shaft to support said bars in uniformly parallel spaced relation thereto, each of said bars having a passage extending lengthwise thereof and substantially radially directed therethrough, a knife on the device, a spring-held hand lever, means interconnecting said lever with the said shaft for rotataesases:

ing the shaft in. one direction on the forward" stroke of the lever against the tension, of said spring successively to bring each of said passages into alignment with said knife, means associated with said lever for rotating said knife, on its pivot on the return stroke of the lever thereby to sever the web each time a passage is brought into alignment with the knife.

4. In a device for cutting sheets from a roll of material, a shaft, bars fitted to receive the web of material from said roll, a row of pins radially projecting from each bar to maintain said material in position on the bars, means radially extending from said shaft to support said bars in uniformly parallel spaced relation thereto, each of said bars having a passage extending lengthwise thereof and substantially radially directed therethrough, said passages being positioned directly in, front of each row of pins, a spring-held knife pivotally mounted on the device, lever operated means for rotating said shaft forwardly successively to bring each of said passages into alignment with said knife, means associated with said lever means for moving said knife against its spring tension through said passages thereby to sever the web each time a passage is brought into alignment with the knife, and means for lifting the forward end of the severed sheet away from the row of pins onwhich it is held.

5. In a device for cutting sheets from a roll of material, a shaft having screw threads intermediate its ends, bars fitted to receive the web of material from said roll, supports radially extending from said shaft to said bars to maintain the latter in uniformly parallel spaced relation to the shaft, means riding on said screw threads and operatively connected to move said bar supports in response to shaft rotations thereby to move the bars radially relative to the shaft, means for locking said means rigidly in position on the shaft, a hand lever operatively connected to rotate said shaft in one direction on the forward stroke of the lever, a knife, and means opera:- tively connecting the handle with said knife to cause the latter to sever the web of material on the return stroke of said lever.

6. In a device for cutting sheets from a roll of material, a shaft, bars fitted to receive the web of material from said roll, supports radially extending from the shaft to said bars to maintain material, azshaft, barsrfitted to receive the web of material from said roll, means radially extending from said shaft to support said bars in uniformly parallel spaced relation thereto, each of said bars having a passage extending lengthwise thereof and substantially radially directed therethrough, a knife on the device, lever operated means for rotating said shaft forwardly, means for correctly stopping the shaft at the end of each forward rotation successivelyto bring each of said passages into alignment with said knife, means associated with said lever means foractu ating said knife for movement through said passage thereby-to sever the web each time a passage is brought into alignment with the knife, and means movable with the lever for releasing the shaft for further advance movement after the web has been severed. V r

- CHARLES TYLER,

) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 122,151 Buell Dec. 26, 1871 124,147 Molthrop Feb. 27, 1-872 1,260,786 Mann" Mar. 26, 1918 1,542,082 Nelson- June 16, 1925 1,652,093 Coombes Dec. 6, 1927 1,652,095 Coombes Dec. 6, 1927 1,874,371 Sjolander Aug. 20, 1932 1,905,899 Campbell Apr. 25, 1933 2,298,360 Fitch Oct. 13, 1942 FGREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,580 Switzerland Apr. 29, 1898 

